How to Make a Macaroni Casserole

Nothing says comfort food like a macaroni casserole. While a good macaroni casserole is hot, cheesy, and bubbly, the variations are endless. You can use any kind of noodle, cheese, or sauce. Add meat or vegetables. Cook it in the oven, on the stove, or in the slow cooker. Whatever you do, make your macaroni casserole uniquely yours! Start with a basic recipe, choose your cooking method, and then spice it up!

Ingredients

  • 12 ounces dry macaroni noodles
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 4 to 5 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1.5 to 2 cups milk
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt, plus more for cooking noodles
  • ground pepper, to taste
  • 1 teaspoon dry or Dijon mustard
  • 1/2 teaspoon paprika
  • 2.5 cups grated cheese
Method 1
Method 1 of 4:

Using an Oven

  1. Image titled Make Macaroni Casserole Step 1
    1
    Preheat your oven to 375 degrees. Butter a 2-quart casserole dish or 9x13" pan. This will ensure that you can easily remove the baked macaroni casserole.
  2. Image titled Make Macaroni Casserole Step 2
    2
    Boil water in a large pot. The water should rapidly boil or bubble. To get the water to boil faster, keep the pot covered.
    • Season your water with salt. The noodles will absorb the flavor as they cook.
  3. Image titled Make Macaroni Casserole Step 3
    3
    Add the dry macaroni and cook. Immediately stir the noodles to keep them from clumping together. Cook the noodles for 2 to 3 minutes less than the recommended time on the package.
  4. Image titled Make Macaroni Casserole Step 4
    4
    Drain the noodles. Once the noodles are al dente, or tender to the bite, drain the noodles into a colander. Set them aside while you finish your cheese sauce.
  5. Image titled Make Macaroni Casserole Step 5
    5
    Melt the butter in a large saucepan. Start doing this while your noodles are cooking. Let the butter melt over medium heat.
  6. Image titled Make Macaroni Casserole Step 6
    6
    Make a roux by mixing in the flour. Add your flour all at once and stir well to combine it with the butter. You should cook the mixture, or roux, over medium heat for another minute to cook off the flour taste.
    • The roux helps thicken your cheese sauce. If you want a really thick sauce, consider making more roux or adding additional cheese.
  7. Image titled Make Macaroni Casserole Step 7
    7
    Warm up your milk. Heat your milk in a microwave-safe bowl for a few minutes. It should be hot to the touch, but not scalding. This will make it easier to blend into your roux.
    • You can add cold milk to your roux, but will need to add it very slowly. Whisk vigorously to break up any clumps of roux. It won't dissolve as quickly in cold milk as it would in hot milk.
  8. Image titled Make Macaroni Casserole Step 8
    8
    Whisk the milk into your saucepan. Gradually pour the milk into your saucepan while you constantly whisk your roux. You'll notice the roux absorb the milk, then gradually see mostly milk in your saucepan. Keep whisking over medium heat till the milk and roux are combined and no lumps remain.
  9. Image titled Make Macaroni Casserole Step 9
    9
    Season with salt, pepper, mustard, and paprika. Keep stirring your sauce till it begins to thicken a little. It should coat the back of your spoon.
  10. Image titled Make Macaroni Casserole Step 10
    10
    Stir the grated cheese into your sauce. Reserve about 1/2 a cup of cheese, but stir the rest into your sauce till it's combined.
  11. Image titled Make Macaroni Casserole Step 11
    11
    Turn off the heat and add your noodles. Depending on the size of your saucepan and pot, combine the cooked noodles and cheese sauce in whichever pot or pan is larger. Stir well, making sure that all the noodles are covered in sauce.
  12. Image titled Make Macaroni Casserole Step 12
    12
    Pour the mixture into your prepared dish. Sprinkle the top with the reserved 1/2 cup of cheese.
  13. Image titled Make Macaroni Casserole Step 13
    13
    Bake your macaroni casserole. Set a timer for 30 minutes and check to see that it's golden brown and bubbly before removing.
  14. Image titled Make Macaroni Casserole Step 14
    14
    Transfer the casserole to a rack. Let it cool for about 5 minutes before serving.[1] [2]
Method 2
Method 2 of 4:

Using a Skillet

  1. Image titled Make Macaroni Casserole Step 15
    1
    Preheat your broiler and heat your skillet on the stovetop. You can use an 8" or 10" cast-iron or oven-safe skillet. The skillet should be over low heat.
  2. Image titled Make Macaroni Casserole Step 16
    2
    Boil water in a large pot. The water should rapidly boil or bubble. To get the water to boil faster, keep the pot covered.
    • Season your water with salt. The noodles will absorb the flavor as they cook.
  3. Image titled Make Macaroni Casserole Step 17
    3
    Add the dry macaroni and cook. Immediately stir the noodles to keep them from clumping together. Cook the noodles for 2 to 3 minutes less than the recommended time on the package.
  4. Image titled Make Macaroni Casserole Step 18
    4
    Drain the noodles. Once the noodles are al dente, or tender to the bite, drain the noodles into a colander. Set them aside while you finish your cheese sauce.
  5. Image titled Make Macaroni Casserole Step 19
    5
    Melt the butter in a large saucepan. Start doing this while your noodles are cooking. Let the butter melt over medium heat.
  6. Image titled Make Macaroni Casserole Step 20
    6
    Make a roux by mixing in the flour. Add your flour all at once and stir well to combine it with the butter. You should cook the mixture, or roux, over medium heat for another minute to cook off the flour taste.
    • The roux helps thicken your cheese sauce. If you want a really thick sauce, consider making more roux or adding additional cheese.
  7. Image titled Make Macaroni Casserole Step 21
    7
    Warm up your milk. Heat your milk in a microwave-safe bowl for a few minutes. It should be hot to the touch, but not scalding. This will make it easier to blend into your roux.
    • You can add cold milk to your roux, but will need to add it very slowly. Whisk vigorously to break up any clumps of roux. It won't dissolve as quickly in cold milk as it would in hot milk.
  8. Image titled Make Macaroni Casserole Step 22
    8
    Whisk the milk into your saucepan. Gradually pour the milk into your saucepan while you constantly whisk your roux. You'll notice the roux absorb the milk, then gradually see mostly milk in your saucepan. Keep whisking over medium heat till the milk and roux are combined and no lumps remain.
  9. Image titled Make Macaroni Casserole Step 23
    9
    Season with salt, pepper, mustard, and paprika. Keep stirring your sauce till it begins to thicken a little. It should coat the back of your spoon.
  10. Image titled Make Macaroni Casserole Step 24
    10
    Stir the grated cheese into your sauce. Reserve about 1/2 a cup of cheese, but stir the rest into your sauce till it's combined.
  11. Image titled Make Macaroni Casserole Step 25
    11
    Turn off the heat and add your noodles. Depending on the size of your saucepan and pot, combine the cooked noodles and cheese sauce in whichever pot or pan is larger. Stir well, making sure that all the noodles are covered in sauce.
Method 3
Method 3 of 4:

Using a Slow Cooker

  1. Image titled Make Macaroni Casserole Step 26
    1
    Butter the inside of your slow cooker. Use a 3 to 4 US-quart (3,000 to 4,000 ml) slow cooker. Buttering the dish will make it easier to remove the baked macaroni casserole.
  2. Image titled Make Macaroni Casserole Step 27
    2
    Boil water in a large pot. The water should rapidly boil or bubble. To get the water to boil faster, keep the pot covered.
    • Season your water with salt. The noodles will absorb the flavor as they cook.
  3. Image titled Make Macaroni Casserole Step 28
    3
    Add the dry macaroni and cook uncovered. Immediately stir the noodles to keep them from clumping together. Cook the noodles for 2 to 3 minutes less than the recommended time on the package.
  4. Image titled Make Macaroni Casserole Step 29
    4
    Drain the noodles. Once the noodles are al dente, or tender to the bite, drain the noodles into a colander. Set them aside while you finish your cheese sauce.
  5. Image titled Make Macaroni Casserole Step 30
    5
    Melt the butter in a large saucepan. Start doing this while your noodles are cooking. Let the butter melt over medium heat.
  6. Image titled Make Macaroni Casserole Step 31
    6
    Make a roux by mixing in the flour. Add your flour all at once and stir well to combine it with the butter. You should cook the mixture, or roux, over medium heat for another minute to cook off the flour taste.
    • The roux helps thicken your cheese sauce. If you want a really thick sauce, consider making more roux or adding additional cheese.
  7. Image titled Make Macaroni Casserole Step 32
    7
    Warm up your milk. Heat your milk in a microwave-safe bowl for a few minutes. It should be hot to the touch, but not scalding. This will make it easier to blend into your roux.
    • You can add cold milk to your roux, but will need to add it very slowly. Whisk vigorously to break up any clumps of roux. It won't dissolve as quickly in cold milk as it would in hot milk.
  8. Image titled Make Macaroni Casserole Step 33
    8
    Whisk the milk into your saucepan. Gradually pour the milk into your saucepan while you constantly whisk your roux. You'll notice the roux absorb the milk, then gradually see mostly milk in your saucepan. Keep whisking over medium heat till the milk and roux are combined and no lumps remain.
  9. Image titled Make Macaroni Casserole Step 34
    9
    Season with salt, pepper, mustard, and paprika. Keep stirring your sauce till it begins to thicken a little. It should coat the back of your spoon.
  10. Image titled Make Macaroni Casserole Step 35
    10
    Stir the grated cheese into your sauce. Reserve about 1/2 a cup of cheese, but stir the rest into your sauce till it's combined.
  11. Image titled Make Macaroni Casserole Step 36
    11
    Turn off the heat and add your noodles. Stir well, making sure that all the noodles are covered in sauce.
  12. Image titled Make Macaroni Casserole Step 37
    12
    Sprinkle with extra cheese and broil. Use the reserved 1/2 cup of cheese and stick it underneath your broiler for 3 to 4 minutes, or until it's golden and bubbly.
  13. Image titled Make Macaroni Casserole Step 38
    13
    Dish up and let the casserole sit a few minutes. This will make it a little easier to eat and also helps the casserole set up.[3]
Method 4
Method 4 of 4:

Spicing Up Your Macaroni Casserole

  1. Image titled Make Macaroni Casserole Step 39
    1
    Use a different noodle. Your macaroni casserole doesn't have to have macaroni noodles. Any type of tubular pasta can work. Avoid using long thin spaghetti like noodles, since they won't hold the cheesy sauce as well.
    • Cavatappi, farfalle, fusilli, penne, and rotini are good examples of tubular noodles that hold a cheese sauce well.[4]
  2. Image titled Make Macaroni Casserole Step 40
    2
    Try a few cheeses. For great results, try a mixture of different cheeses. This can help build flavor and make your pasta creamier.
    • Sharp cheeses work best in macaroni casserole since the milk sauce doesn't have much flavor on its own. Try Feta, Gruyere, sharp white Cheddar, or Pecorino Romano.[5]
    • To create a stringy stretchy casserole, use Mozzarella or Monterey Jack.
  3. Image titled Make Macaroni Casserole Step 41
    3
    Add texture. Since macaroni casserole is pretty uniform in texture on its own, add a little crunch to mix things up. The easiest way to do this is by adding a topping.
    • Try topping with a mixture of breadcrumbs and Parmesan cheese. Scatter it over top and broil or bake as directed.
    • For a bigger crunch, spread large homemade croutons over your casserole and broil or bake as directed.
  4. Image titled Make Macaroni Casserole Step 42
    4
    Stir in a few additions. If you want to round out your macaroni casserole to create a more rounded meal, consider adding a few of the following:
    • cooked ground beef, crumbled bacon, diced sausages, shredded chicken, flaked tuna
    • steamed broccoli, sauteed mushrooms, green peas, fresh diced tomatoes, black beans
  5. Image titled Make Macaroni Casserole Step 43
    5
    Drizzle with a sauce. Add a little extra oomph to your casserole by adding a lot or a little of the following sauces:
    • ketchup
    • barbecue sauce
    • sriracha sauce
    • tabasco sauce
    • sour cream
    • salsa

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References

  1. ↑ http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Cast-Iron-Mac-and-Cheese-51100650
  2. ↑ http://www.marthastewart.com/271998/perfect-macaroni-and-cheese
  3. ↑ http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Cast-Iron-Mac-and-Cheese-51100650
  4. ↑ http://pastafits.org/pasta-dictionary/
  5. ↑ http://www.marthastewart.com/271998/perfect-macaroni-and-cheese

About this article

wikiHow Staff
Co-authored by:
wikiHow Staff
wikiHow Staff Writer
This article was co-authored by wikiHow Staff. Our trained team of editors and researchers validate articles for accuracy and comprehensiveness. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. This article has been viewed 13,192 times.
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Co-authors: 16
Updated: October 10, 2022
Views: 13,192